Hendry County Motorsports Park promoter Ken Kinney, Jr. rolled the dice on Saturday as a tropical wave of thunderstorms rolled in from the Atlantic, inundating parts of South Florida with heavy rains. With both sprint cars and late models on the bill, several radio stations running ads and posters plastered all over the area, this was a big show for the newest race program in Florida.

"Yes, I rolled the dice and won against Mother Nature, but I don't want to do that a whole bunch of times", Kinney said after a very successful Saturday night. "The sprint cars put on a great show, not to take anything away from the late models or the local pure stocks and street stocks. But I think Hendry County Motorsports Park could have a good marriage with the Florida sprint cars."

This was the first time this class of sprint cars have raced at Hendry County. Many of the drivers are regulars with the Top Gun Sprint Car Series, Florida's premiere traveling sprint car show.

In the feature Jacksonville's Matt Kurtz and Tony Agin, from nearby Ft Myers wowed the fans with their battle for the lead. Agin had the point and was able to hold off Kurtz for a dozen laps as the two cars as times seemed glued together. But Kurtz, who has won three of the five Top Gun races this year, finally got underneath Agin's #38 and moved through turn three with the lead at lap 20. After that it was a blowout as he pulled away from the field.

In the closing laps Venice sprint car veteran Tim George, winner of the second of two heat races, and Tampa's Davey Jones kept the fans entertained as they fought hard for third place during the last 7 or 9 laps. George won that battle but couldn't catch Agin and settled for the third place finish.

Gene Lasker, one of Florida winningest Sprint car drivers over the last decade and runaway winner of the first heat race, started sixth and was in the second spot behind Agin on lap 2. He was trying to pass Agin for the lead going down the backstraight on lap three, when contact was made between the two machines. Agin held the spot but a moment later the caution flags were flying with the #8 of Rich Alexander tangling with the turn two wall. Under the caution Lasker's car died on the track and he was pushed to the pits.

Matt Kurtz said afterwards talking in the winners circle with announcer Rob Kohler, "It was awesome tonight, the track was good, it was wide, you could race from top to bottom, it was fast, its fun little place, I like it."

In the rather short field of late models, driver of the Bubba the Love Sponge #101 race car Keith Nosbisch, put on a clinic, lapping all but two of the competitors. Nosbisch, winner of perhaps 400 or more late model features, took the lead on lap one and was gone. Only Plant City racer Roger Crouse and Dennis Williams from Zephyrhills could stay on the lead lap, Crouse doggedly refusing to let Nosbisch get by him as the checkered flag waved.

"Tonight's race track was perfect, I mean you could go flat out", Nosbich said after the race.

The Pure Stocks continue to be one of top classes at the speedway. LaBelle racer Travis Drapel appeared to have his third win in a row in the bag, but was disqualified in tech for a sway bar violation. John Basquin from nearby Clewiston took the feature win instead.

The day started out with wind and rain and threatened all day. As late as 6 PM it was raining and it appeared the event would have to be scratched. But the skies cleared and remained cleared all evening and even though the pits were a bit soggy, the track was in excellent shape and there was a good turnout of fans from across Florida.

Next Saturday the track is closed as the United Dirt Late Model Challenge Series will be up the road at Punta Gorda's Charlotte County Motorsports Park for the 2nd Annual "Battle on the Blacktop".

Action returns to HCMP on August 29th with the Messier Land Development Late Models, Paul Bange Roofing Sportsman, Pure Stocks, Advanced Auto Parts Street Stocks, H.C. Mini Stocks and 8 Cylinder Bombers. An on track autograph session with the late models will be a part of the racing program.

For more information, visit www.hendrycountyracing.com, and join the e-mail list to be notified of special events. The track e-mail address is info@hendrycountyracing.com